Who Is Mikhail Gorbachev? Age, Biography and Wiki
Mikhail Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931, and as of 2025, he is 94 years old. He is known as the last General Secretary of the Soviet Union, holding office from 1985 until 1991, during which he played a crucial role in ending the Cold War and implementing significant reforms like Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring). Gorbachev's tenure marked a transformative period in both Soviet and global politics, highlighting his commitment to reforming the Soviet Union and improving international relations.
| Occupation | Activists |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 2, 1931 |
| Age | 91 Years |
| Birth Place | Privolnoye, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | Russia |
| Date of death | 30 August, 2022 |
| Died Place | Moscow, Russia |
Popularity
Mikhail Gorbachev's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While precise figures for Mikhail Gorbachev's current height and weight may be less relevant given his advanced age, he is generally recognized as having a height of approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). Throughout his life, he has maintained a distinguished presence, often characterized by his iconic birthmark and glasses.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Mikhail Gorbachev was married to Raisa Gorbacheva until her death in 1999. The couple had one daughter, Irina V. Virganskaya, who has continued to honor her parent's legacy. As he enjoys his later years, Gorbachev remains focused on his family, but there have been no reports of new romantic relationships or dating status, emphasizing his dedication to his familial responsibilities and charitable endeavors.
At the time, Privolnoye was divided between ethnic Russians and Ukrainians. Gorbachev's paternal family were Russians and had moved from Voronezh several generations before; his maternal family were of ethnic Ukrainian heritage and had migrated from Chernihiv.
His parents named him Viktor at birth, but at his mother's insistence he had a secret baptism, where his grandfather christened him Mikhail. His relationship with his father, Sergey Andreyevich Gorbachev, was close; his mother, Maria Panteleyevna Gorbacheva (née Gopkalo), was colder and punitive. His parents were poor, and lived as peasants.
They had married as teenagers in 1928, and in keeping with local tradition had initially resided in Sergey's father's house, an adobe-walled hut, before a hut of their own could be built.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Mikhail Gorbachev's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. Despite his substantial influence in politics, his financial standing is modest compared to other global leaders. His income primarily stems from various speeches, publications, and charitable foundations. Throughout his life, Gorbachev has emphasized the importance of social issues over personal wealth.
In the Revolutions of 1989, most of the Marxist–Leninist states of Central and Eastern Europe held multi-party elections resulting in regime change. In most countries, like Poland and Hungary, this was achieved peacefully, but in Romania, the revolution turned violent, and led to Ceaușescu's overthrow and execution.
Gorbachev was too preoccupied with domestic problems to pay much attention to these events. He believed that democratic elections would not lead Eastern European countries into abandoning their commitment to socialism.
In 1989, he visited East Germany for the fortieth anniversary of its founding; shortly after, in November, the East German government allowed its citizens to cross the Berlin Wall, a decision Gorbachev praised. Over the following years, much of the wall was demolished.
Neither Gorbachev nor Thatcher or Mitterrand wanted a swift reunification of Germany, aware that it would likely become the dominant European power. Gorbachev wanted a gradual process of German integration but Kohl began calling for rapid reunification. With German reunification in 1990, many observers declared the Cold War over.
Career, Business and Investments
Gorbachev's career has been marked by significant political transitions and social revolutions. Following his retirement from politics, he established the Gorbachev Foundation and has been involved in numerous global initiatives focusing on environmental issues, political discourse, and humanitarian efforts. His investment in educational and social projects reflects his commitment to reform, demonstrating his ongoing influence even after leaving office.
In August 1955, Gorbachev started work at the Stavropol regional procurator's office, but disliked it and got a transfer to work for Komsomol, becoming deputy director of Komsomol's agitation and propaganda department for that region.
In this position, he visited villages in the area and tried to improve the lives of their inhabitants; he established a discussion circle in Gorkaya Balka to help its peasant residents gain social contacts.
Social Network
Mikhail Gorbachev is an active figure on social media, particularly on platforms like Twitter, where he shares insights on contemporary global issues and promotes dialogue on human rights and the environment. Although more reserved in recent years, his presence online remains significant. Gorbachev's legacy is often celebrated in various documentaries and public discussions, and he remains a figure of interest in both historical and modern contexts.
In April 1984, Gorbachev was appointed chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Soviet legislature, a largely honorific position.
In June he traveled to Italy as a Soviet representative for the funeral of Italian Communist Party leader Enrico Berlinguer, and in September to Sofia, Bulgaria to attend celebrations of the fortieth anniversary of its liberation from the Nazis by the Red Army.
In December, he visited Britain at the request of its prime minister Margaret Thatcher; she was aware that he was a potential reformer and wanted to meet him. At the end of the visit, Thatcher said: "I like Mr. Gorbachev. We can do business together".
He felt that the visit helped to erode Andrei Gromyko's dominance of Soviet foreign policy and sent a signal to the United States government that he wanted to improve Soviet–US relations.
Education
Gorbachev attended Moscow State University, where he studied law and graduated in 1955. His educational background provided him with a solid foundation for his future career in politics and governance. He has often acknowledged the role education played in shaping his worldview and political ideology, which has influenced his leadership and reform policies throughout his life.
In conclusion, Mikhail Gorbachev remains a pivotal figure in modern history and global politics. His legacy continues to inspire discussions on reform, peace, and international cooperation. As we look to 2025, his contributions and insights remain relevant in today's ever-changing political landscape.
Growing up under the rule of Joseph Stalin, in his youth he operated combine harvesters on a collective farm before joining the Communist Party, which then governed the Soviet Union as a one-party state. Studying at Moscow State University, he married fellow student Raisa Titarenko in 1953 and received his law degree in 1955.
Moving to Stavropol, he worked for the Komsomol youth organization and, after Stalin's death, became a keen proponent of the de-Stalinization reforms of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. He was appointed the First Party Secretary of the Stavropol Regional Committee in 1970, overseeing the construction of the Great Stavropol Canal.
In 1978, he returned to Moscow to become a Secretary of the party's Central Committee; he joined the governing Politburo (25th term) as a non-voting member in 1979 and a voting member in 1980.
Three years after the death of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev—following the brief tenures of Yuri Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko—in 1985, the Politburo elected Gorbachev as general secretary, the de facto leader.
